Worksite Wellness at WIC Kinkini Banerjee California WIC Association [email protected].

Worksite Wellness at WIC

Kinkini Banerjee

California WIC Association

[email protected]

WIC Facts and Figures

In California, the nation’s largest WIC Program, 82 local agencies currently serve 1.44 million participants at 650 local centers

Over 60 percent of infants born in California receive WIC services

Change is Here! New WIC Foods

WIC Connects the Dots!

Better Foods

Clear Messages

Healthy Outcomes

Wellness at WIC

WIC Walks the Talk (WWT) to assist WIC clinics in supporting employees to adopt more physically active lifestyles

FitWIC

Wellness – The Time is Now!

The new WIC Food package is the perfect opportunity to take our wellness efforts to the next level

It’s all about the family!

Change is difficult and can best happen when employees’ are engaged in the process, and their health priorities are reflected in the Program

Wellness Defined

Wellness is an expanded idea of health and means more than absence from disease. True wellness is determined by the decisions you make about how to live your life with vitality and meaning.

The Six Dimensions of Wellness

Healthy Habits at WIC

Vision:

To create and sustain a healthy and thriving WIC community that focuses on a culture of mutual support and physical, mental, and emotional well-being

Healthy Habits at WIC

Mission: To ensure that staff wellness is in the forefront of

prevention efforts by the WIC Program. To encourage employees’ personal and professional productivity, and physical, mental and emotional well-being, the Healthy Habits at WIC: Worksite Wellness Program will adopt a holistic approach that actively supports employees to make healthy lifestyle choices

Needs Assessment Survey

To develop an understanding of WIC employee attitudes and practices around wellness, staff were invited to complete an Employee survey.

Wanted approximately 15% (about 450) responses

More than 1300 of responded

Survey Results

Question # 4. I am satisfied with my current state of

health.0.1%

45.80%

17.8%9.7%

26.6%

very satisfied

somewhatsatisfied

Not very satisfied

Not at all satisfied

Not sure

Survey Results

Question #9. I am ready to take steps to improve my health

and lifestyle.

3%

1%

0%

33%

63%

Very Likely

Somew hat Likely

Not very Likely

Not at all Likely

Not Sure

Survey Results

Question #2. If I had a 5-minute break, I would use

it for personal activity - like stretching, yoga, or a walk - if there

was a place to do it.

2%

43%

34%

15%

6%

Very Likely

Somew hat Likely

Not very Likely

Not at all Likely

Not Sure

Survey Results

We heard from our Staff loud and clear

Stress Management (Work-Life Balance) - 63.8 % and Weight Management—53 %

Survey Results

An overwhelming amount of staff prefer that health topic information be given during staff meetings. Weekly e-mails and lunch and learns were also an option

Well WIC Worksite

With the help of the needs assessments, and a review of best Worksite Wellness practices, the Advisory committee has developed Guidelines (10 Steps) that will deem a WIC Agency a “WIC Certified Well Worksite”

Well WIC Worksite

10 Step Guidelines to help WIC Agencies become a “WIC Certified Well Worksite”

Agencies will sign a letter of intent that they want to be “WWW” and will have 12-18 months to put their polices and practices in place

A team of evaluators will evaluate the Agency to “certify” it a “Well WIC Worksite”

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

1. Better Nutrition/healthy foods

– Healthy menu options at meetings– Educate staff on portion sizes– Encourage staff to maintain their food diaries– Conduct vegetable and fruit challenges

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

2. Physical Activity

- Activity, stretch breaks at staff meetings and during work days

– Walking clubs– PA Challenges– Worksite

stairwell use

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

3. Emotional/Mental health support– Invite speakers to educate staff on stress-

management, parenting, personal financial management, managing relationships, conflict resolution, domestic violence

– Provide information on depression– Invite Human Resources to provide

information/speakers on: Mental Health coverage under current health insurance; Employee Assistance Program

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

4. General Health

– Provide Health Risk screening for staff – Flu shots, self-examination, dental health,

doctors office guides– Offer Smoking Cessation programs– Offer ergonomic information or programs

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

5. Lactation Accommodation for WIC Staff

- Privacy to pump

- Storage for expressed milk

- Education for staff during

prenatal and

postpartum periods 

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

6. Community Capacity Building

– Coordinate wellness efforts with Network Regional programs

– Conduct events with community partners. eg: Chamber of commerce, Parks and Recs, Childcare agencies

– Become member of a local consortium on health & wellness

– Conduct an annual health awareness event in the community

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

7. Capture senior-level and Board support

– Develop a mission statement that reflects a

commitment to the health and well-being of employees

– Success depends on upper management being engaged in the process

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

8. Designate a staff member(s) to coordinate wellness activities in the agency

– Allow time during staff meetings for this person to present info

– Form a Wellness committee or taskforce– Survey/assess employees prior to

implementing programs

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

9. Communicate wellness to staff on a regular basis

– Use Bulletin boards, monthly/weekly health tips, paystub inserts

– Wellness newsletter– Staff meeting to include time for physical

activity/wellness, taste testing, sharing recipes, etc.

10 Steps to a Well WIC Worksite

10. Periodic evaluation to assess the success and identify changing

staff needs of the Worksite Wellness program

– Evaluate health/wellness programs and impact on employees

– CWA will work with Network to enhance the effectiveness of our worksite wellness initiative

Best Wellness Practices at WIC

Shasta County WIC – Take Action!

Collaboration is key for success!

Best Wellness Practices at WIC

Monterey County WIC

People will change to reflect their environments. If you want healthy people, create healthy environments

Best Wellness Practices at WIC

PHFE WIC - Evaluations are key!- Help tailor program

for staff needs

- Provide compelling

evidence on the value

of worksite wellness

Thank you!

Questions, suggestions?